Centers on the real-life story of the flamboyant and visionary American founder of Selfridge's, London's department store.
1. Episode #1.1
In 1908 Agnes Towler,a shop girl at Gamages store, is sacked after a flamboyant American customer insists she empty her entire stock of gloves on her counter but later receives an expensive pair of gloves from the man. He is Harry Selfridge,a former shop worker who has moved from Chicago to London with his mother Lois,wife Rose and their children. His aim is to open his own store in Oxford Street. When his original partner backs out journalist Frank Edwards introduces Harry to influential suffragette Lady Mae Loxton,through whom he obtains the required financial …2. Episode #1.2
Agnes gets her younger brother George work in the warehouse at the store but the siblings get a nasty shock when their brutish,drunken father Reg turns up and they reluctantly let him stay. Feeling alienated from her husband's business Rose goes to the National Gallery and strikers up a friendship with handsome young artist Roddy,though she is taken aback when he makes a pass at her. THe store is not doing as well as Harry had hoped and he needs a gimmick to attract trade. He therefore approaches the cross-Channel aviator Louis Bleriot and display Bleriot's plane at …3. Episode #1.3
Harry continues his affair with Ellen in her new home but Rose visits Lady Mae,who alerts her to her husband's infidelity,causing Rose to agree to pose for a painting by Roddy. Harry shocks his staff by suggesting that all beauty products should be put on display,rather than behind the counter,with perfumes at the fore to mask street smells. Display organizer Henri brings in his old flame,Valerie Maurel,an advertising agent for consultation and,although she hints at caution,Harry gets his way.However Henri also sees that Agnes has a talent and uses her designs and not…4. Episode #1.4
Whilst Mr Grove - married to an invalid wife - and Miss Mardle continue their affair Miss Bunting is dismissed for stealing and replaced with the progressive Miss Robillus,whose new-fangled ideas annoy many staff members. Harry arranges for visiting Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova to come to the store as a publicity stunt. Rose misses the event as she is at the Chelsea Arts Club with Roddy but finally reveals to him that she is Mrs Selfridge and resists an affair. Ellen Love attempts to upstage Pavlova and is dumped by Harry. Another unwelcome diversion is the arrival …5. Episode #1.5
Victor visits Agnes and they kiss. Harry also pays her a call and persuades her to go back to work,buying off Reg and threatening him not to return. Roddy goes to see Rose with a portrait he has painted of her. They too kiss and are seen by Rose's daughter Beatrice,whom Rose swears to secrecy though she tells her father about the portrait. Rose is also visited by Ellen,who is blatant about her affair with Harry though Rose tells her she already knows of it. Victor is disappointed that Agnes is working close to Henri but steps in to save George's job when Harry …6. Episode #1.6
Harry lies in a coma and journalists are keen to know why he was driving,drunk,late at night. Frank tells Lois of Ellen's outburst and insists they keep it quiet,also instructing the recovering Ellen to stay away. Victor is late for work after being bedded by Lady Mae and Mr Grove turns up despite his wife's recent death. All past animosities among the shop girls are forgotten as everybody pulls together in Harry's absence and Agnes and Henri grow closer The staff meet to discuss a forthcoming march past Selfridge's by the suffragettes on the day the group meet there …7. Episode #1.7
Miss Ravillous has Agnes promoted to ladies' fashion - where she and Henri end up kissing. Kitty receives humbugs from a mystery admirer and assumes it is Frank after he has flirted with her but is not too disappointed to discover it is George Towler whilst Doris asks Mr Grove to get Harry to give a reference to Miss Bunting,now destitute and unemployable. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle comes to sign books at the store and persuades Harry - who is anxious to keep in with him - to allow American psychic Rex Crenell to hold a seance on the premises. Staff reaction is mixed,Miss…8. Episode #1.8
Harry hosts a dinner for fellow American Frank Woolworth,who has opened a chain of discount stores in the United States and is extending his business to London. Seeing the need to compete with Woolworth Harry plans a lavish mid-season bargain sale. Kitty and Doris are interviewed by Grove for promotion to replace Agnes and Grove asks Harry to consider a reference for Miss Bunting. Harry refuses but Grove is touched by Doris's humanity and homeliness. Ellen Love comes to the store with Tony to invite the Selfridges to the opening night of his play,in which she will …9. Episode #1.9
News reaches the store that Miss Bunting has killed herself,causing a remorseful Harry to offer to pay for her funeral and Mr Grove to take an upset Doris out for tea,claiming he should have done more to help. Agnes and Henri also discuss the suicide and reach out for each other but they are interrupted by Miss Ravillus,who warns Agnes to be careful about the relationship and consider her career. When Valerie reappears at the store Agnes gives Henri her blessing to see her and gets on with the window display marking explorer Ernest Shackleton's lecture to be given at …10. Episode #1.10
Harry wakes up in bed with a one night stand and returns home to an unwelcoming Rose. On arriving at work he is told by Lady Mae that the king wants a private shopping session after hours. Doris has her own good news. Grove has asked her to marry him but Miss Mardle is shocked and insulted when he suggests they continue their affair. Henri tells Agnes that he will be going to New York to work with Valerie. Harry is angry at losing such a valued employee and insists he goes immediately. Agnes is disappointed but finds consolation with Victor. The king's shopping trip …
1. Episode #2.1
Five years have elapsed since the store opened. Harry's son Gordon is at boarding school but obtains his father's permission to leave and work in the store whilst all his female relatives have returned to America. However Rose comes back for the fifth anniversary. On the boat over she has met emancipated feminist Delphine Day, a writer and night-club owner, who advises her to use her own potential. Lady Mae's husband Lord Loxley arrives in London, suspicious of his wife's friendship with Harry and not above using blackmail to get onto a military committee. New head of…2. Episode #2.2
Harry is confronted by a delegation of trade unionists led by Arnold Huxton, demanding better workers' rights. Union membership is forbidden at the store as the staff have their own council for debates but Ed and Dave, who work in the loading bay with Gordon, are interested and arrange to attend a talk given by Huxton. Gordon overhears and sneaks into the meeting but when the Selfridge staff learn how comparatively well-served they are the unionists are angry and a fight ensues. Rose, seeing Victor at the club, follows him home to where he is living in poverty though …3. Episode #2.3
The store is preparing for the Empire Exhibition but Agnes is struggling with her display and Thackeray is not pleased when Harry reinstates Henri, who has offered to help her. Nor is Rose happy to find Gordon has some saucy photos but in the resultant confrontation he makes her see that she should give Harry another chance. Consequently she declines her husband's suggestion that she should return to America if there is a war and they agree to support each other. Kitty gives Frank another chance as they take a picnic to Green park whilst Grove reencounters Miss Mardle…4. Episode #2.4
Male staff are anxious to enlist in the army, gaining the nickname the Selfridge Brigade. Agnes is upset to learn that brother George has joined up but cannot prevent him whilst Victor is about to sign up but his uncle Gio is dying and asks him to stay and look after the family. Rose, Lady Mae and Delphine hold a charity sale to raise funds for Belgian refugees, taking place in the store's Palm Court restaurant. This leads to a confrontation between Thackeray, angry that a donation tin is put on his counter, and Henri but Harry has now appointed Henri his deputy and …5. Episode #2.5
At Neuhaus's suggestion Miss Mardle takes in Belgian refugees, including handsome young violinist Florian Dupont. Agnes is asked out by Victor, now running the family restaurant following Uncle Gio's death and Gabriella's return to Italy. Gordon feels guilty that his friends are fighting in the war whilst Harry will not allow him to sign up and women are recruited to take over delivery work at the store, Rose becoming their champion when she demands better conditions for them. Delphine arranges a meeting for Harry with members of the military procurement board - …6. Episode #2.6
As the war progresses German goods are withdrawn from the store and Harry is approached by Bill Summertime, whom he met at the cards session, and who is part of British Intelligence. He asks if Harry, as an American neutral, will visit Germany as a spy. Henri bumps into Agnes, whilst she is waiting for Victor. Things are strained between them but she tells Henri that Victor is a good man. A party including Henri and Agnes and Miss Mardle and Florian attend the music hall and see popular singer Richard Chapman. Not only is he ideal to headline Harry's patriotic concert…7. Episode #2.7
Henri is arrested but tells Agnes that the only reason he went to Germany was to find his old lover Valerie. Agnes tells Grove she believes Henri has been set up by the jealous Thackeray, who is forced to admit it. Henri is released but, after being accused of theft in New York, goes on the run. Rose is concerned that she cannot get in touch with Harry and learns from Delphine that he is in Germany, spying on their manufacturers. An envious Grove warns Miss Mardle that she and Florian could become victims of gossip but she does not care - unlike Grove Florian has …8. Episode #2.8
Harry returns to London with information for Summertime but is angry that he will not support him in the face of accusations of treachery and talks to the staff to reassure them that Edwards' newspaper story about him was a lie. Edwards is genuinely contrite and agrees to print a letter from Harry telling the truth but the editor refuses. Following the bad publicity business is poor until Delphine brings American film producer Mack Sennett and his actress lover Mabel Normand to the store. They throw a lavish party where Mabel gets young Gordon very drunk. Harry visits…9. Episode #2.9
Business is still suffering after the newspaper story so Henri brings in the formidable journalist Winifred Bonfils Black. At the same time a contrite Frank Edwards resigns from the paper and meets Lady Mae, who tells him and Harry that she knows Loxley blackmailed Edgerton and is the real culprit. Harry invites her and Pimble to live with the Selfridges, reconciling Mae with Rose, and they unite against Loxley when he storms in to drag his wife back. Rose is feeling unwell and is advised to take a break from London by Delphine, with her visiting mother and daughters….10. Episode #2.10
Josie Mardle tells Florian she believes she is too old for him and that she has arranged an audition with the Halle Orchestra in Manchester. The boy is heart-broken but surprisingly it is Grove who apologizes to her and persuades her that she should make a go of the relationship. Agnes and Victor give Harry notice as they are leaving to run the restaurant together. Henri is also quitting to go to France and fight in the army. Agnes, Victor, Franco and George look around the restaurant but Agnes has her misgivings as to whether it is what she wants, given that her …
1. Episode #3.1
Nine months after his wife's death Harry returns to work, having opened more stores , for the wedding of daughter Rosalie to aviator Sergei De Bolotoff, son of the formidable Russian princess Marie. Among the guests are Agnes and Henri, who will marry themselves before long, and Kitty and Frank Edwards, who have her annoying sister Connie as their lodger. Still smarting from Mae's divorce Loxley plans revenge on Harry and sees his chance when he learns that Harry is partly financing an aerodrome for Sergei's planned airline. Loxley leaks the news, bringing Harry into …2. Episode #3.2
Harry agrees to support Nancy Webb and asks Mr Crabb to organize funds to finance her project but Mr Crabb is unable to comply, telling Harry that there is no money. Nor is Serge happy to find Harry has blocked his plan for an aerodrome and Harry is irate to learn that his son-in-law's new business associate is Lord Loxley. Thackeray goes head to head with Harry over the handling of an exhibition by French couturier Madame Lanvin and is sacked for his pains but Henri and Agnes come to the rescue,as, rather unexpectedly, does Harry's daughter Rosalie, who demonstrates …3. Episode #3.3
Harry applies for a bank loan to fund Nancy Webb's project but at the land auction is forced to bid well beyond his budget due to Loxley's interference. Lois meanwhile is perturbed to find that Marie is running up huge hotel bills on Harry's account and decides to find out more about her. Agnes is concerned by Henri's distant attitude and learns from Victor that Henri is traumatised by his war experiences. This leads to a row whilst they are designing a window display in which Harry has to intervene. Connie, one of many women engaged at the store to replace the men …4. Episode #3.4
Kitty is taken to hospital, where Frank is horrified to discover that her attackers were the soldiers he met, who bought drink with the money he gave them. The police are called but Frank, fearing he will be incriminated, asks Kitty to drop the charges, much to her disgust. Serge learns that Loxley was only using him to get at Harry and has no intention of funding his airport. Violette makes a play for Victor, to the annoyance of Gordon, visiting the club with his companion Grace Calthorpe. Victor also tells the blackmailing policeman Purkiss he will no longer pay him…5. Episode #3.5
With Henri gone Harry invites applications for a new deputy but ultimately appoints Gordon. As Kitty returns to work a sly journalist tricks Connie into giving him a story which ultimately vilifies Kitty for taking jobs away from the men and shows her attackers as victims. Kity is the subject of hate mail and Frank's writing contract terminated whilst Loxley, previously accused of profiteering, jumps on the band-wagon with a charitable trust for ex-soldiers, indirectly hitting at Harry. Harry responds by unveiling the plans for his project with Kitty Webb - though she…6. Episode #3.6
Harry becomes more involved with Nancy, inviting her to family dinner and having to sell some of his shares to raise funding for their housing project; a move which also diminishes his majority shareholding. Nancy, meanwhile, has other plans for Harry's money. Sergei leaves for Paris to secure funds for his aviation dreams, taking Rosalie. Victor, under continuing extortion, joins forces with another businessman with a gambling interest in his nightclub. Kitty's attackers are out on bail thanks to Loxley and after an ineffectual attempt from Frank to tackle him, Kitty…7. Episode #3.7
Miss Mardle organizes Doris Grove's funeral, barring Billy, the delivery boy and true father of Doris's son Ernest. Sensing that she is troubled Mr Crabb persuades Miss Mardle to tell Grove the truth about the child's paternity, adding that Doris was run over returning home from taking Ernest to see his father. The news is not well received. George is disturbed to find that Ryan is dealing drugs from Victor's club and quits. His fears are justified when a patron almost dies of an over-dose. Nancy starts to feel guilty about her plan to defraud Harry when he tells her …8. Episode #3.8
As the Treaty of Versailles is signed Harry decides to mark it with a celebratory event entitled Britain at Play. Frank, his press agent, devises a competition, the prize being a trip in an aeroplane with French aviator Jacques De Sibours, who takes a shine to Violette - though she is still pining for Victor, who, suffering from Regan's rough clientele at the club, proposes to make it a high class gambling establishment. Gordon is caught in a compromising situation with Grace by Mr Crabb, but, for all his assurances, she knows Gordon will not marry her due to their …9. Episode #3.9
Miss Mardle persuades Mr Grove not only to let Billy see his son but to hire George as head of security whilst Violette reluctantly dates Jacques and Gordon determines to tell his father he wants to marry Grace. Princess Marie is delighted when her jewels arrive from Russia, repaying Harry for his kindness. She is suspicious of Nancy and the supposed architect Gerrard, actually Nancy's brother Gus, who reacts badly when Nancy admits that she loves Harry and will go through with the marriage. After the success of Britain At Play Harry proposes a mammoth sale with …10. Episode #3.10
At the delayed board meeting Loxley proposes a vote of No Confidence in Harry but this is defeated after Loxley launches a personal tirade against the store owner. As the day approaches to begin work on the housing estate Nancy tells Gus that the money will be used to build houses and not misappropriated but Princess Marie has alerted Harry to the supposed architect being a fraud and Gus is arrested. Nancy escapes but brings the money to Harry though the engagement is inevitably off and Harry, like Violette, counts himself unlucky in love. Meanwhile Gordon comes to an…
1. Episode #4.1
1928: Grove, missing Josie and with a house full of unruly offspring, celebrates a birthday and twenty years at the store whilst Lady Mae, now divorced and with no money, returns to London. Given her past patronage Harry is keen to help but she has enterprising ideas of her own. In other respects things are not going well for Harry. His plan to unveil a huge statue to womanhood, the Queen of Time, is publicly opposed by reactionary press baron Lord Wynnstay and he loses money on a boxing match sponsored by cocky young entrepreneur Jimmy Dillon. His children Gordon and…2. Episode #4.2
Harry returns to work in a confrontational mood after Wynnstay's press has suggested that he should hand the store's management over to Gordon. Lady Mae impresses with her plans for a new fashion line and unwittingly courts bigotry by employing talented black seamstress Tilly Brockless, incurring the prejudice of her less accomplished white colleagues, though she finds a friend in Grove's eldest daughter Meryl who feels out of her depth working at the store. Harry opens a new, technology department to sell electrical home appliances whilst Mae's first fashion show is …3. Episode #4.3
Following his mother's funeral Harry incurs his children's displeasure through his affair with Rosie Dolly, whose gambling habit he finances, as well as a stock flotation suggested by Dillon, though it pays out dividends at the expense of family loyalty. Cosmetics queen Elizabeth Arden comes to supervise a display and strikes a chord with Kitty when it transpires that both put career above child bearing. However Kitty is surprised when Miss Arden tells her that her marriage is in decline and offers her a job in America. Tilly continues to face bigotry whilst an injury…4. Episode #4.4
In Biarritz Harry celebrates the acquisition of more stores for his chain, regaling journalists with a lavish party, whose guests include the Dolly sisters - still squandering his money at the gaming tables - Lady Mae with beau Jimmy Dillon, and Frank Edwards, unhappy about his wife's proposition and ready to succumb to the wiles of gossip columnist Felicity Jenner. Mae detects the rift between Gordon and Harry, whom she urges to reconcile with his son though he does not heed her advice whilst in London Violette organizes a successful exhibition featuring author A. A….5. Episode #4.5
The Dolly sisters make their film in the store, featuring Meryl, but cause Harry nothing but trouble, delaying filming and bringing retribution from D'Ancona for their vast gambling debts, as well as criticism from the Civic Building Society, shareholders in the store, for Harry's overspending. Rosie's infidelity is the last straw. Harry also crosses swords with Wynnstay, over his papers' coverage of Rosalie's divorce and other family discord and threatens to withdraw his advertising. Josie offers the Grove family comfort and finally accepts Roger's proposal but there…6. Episode #4.6
When Wynnstay's paper prints an article blaming the attack on the store on Harry's gambling debts Harry cancels his advertising in the paper and cuts off the Dolly sisters' credit. However he is broke and is forced to sell off his provincial stores to pay D'Ancona - stores run by Gordon, who is sympathetic and reconciled with his father. Lady Mae organizes a photo shoot for her fashion brochure where Jimmy is annoyed at her closeness to Victor whilst the Edwards' marriage also seems beyond repair. As Tilly faces further discrimination the only truly happy people would…7. Episode #4.7
Jimmy's jealousy of Victor's interest in Mae leads to a fight in which Victor is killed though the police suspect D'Ancona's gang and George and Connie are surprised to fund that Victor's main beneficiary is their baby. Encouraged by his mother Clara to act naturally Jimmy joins with Harry to buy the arrogant Whiteley brothers' Bayswater store . Frank prepares to join Kitty in leaving for America, depriving Harry of a spokesperson when Wynnstay threatens to sue for breach of contract, though Gordon steps into the breach and proves his worth. An irate Wynnstay then …8. Episode #4.8
Harry and Jimmy push through the purchase of Whitelys, against the advice of Mr Crabb, who learns that the Whitely boys owed huge sums to their suppliers, who are now refusing further delivery. Meryl discovers Tilly's secret and, backed by Lady Mae, persuades her father to reinstate her at the expense of her persecutors. Roger has plans to make Whitelys' more profitable but tragedy strikes the family. leaving Josie feeling vulnerable and inept. Disregarding the general air of grief at the store Wynnstay sends muck-raking reporter Tooby to clarify the clarify the …9. Episode #4.9
As Harry plans to celebrate twenty years of his London store with a special parade Jimmy struggles to beat the suppliers' embargo on Whitelys' but comes up with a solution by using Selfridges' excess stock. This saves the day but gets Harry in trouble with the Civic. Newly widowed Josie finds it hard to cheer up the orphaned Grove children but is strengthened by a return to work, suggested by Meryl, who has an admirer of her own. Wynnstay continues to hound Jimmy, who makes an admission to Harry which causes a rift between them and leads to an incident which will mar …10. Episode #4.10
Jimmy's final act leaves Harry in a state of shock as Wynnstay's press implies the pair were involved in financial irregularities as well as exposing Lady Mae's affair with Jimmy. A beleaguered Gordon forces his father to confront his accusers and lift the embargo, to the Civic's satisfaction, thanks to Jimmy's will, ensuring that the store's anniversary is a success - though Harry's profligacy demands he surrenders the reins to Gordon. Whilst Lady Mare returns to France Josie is installed as assistant manager, Tilly gets her just rewards, George Towler and his wife …
Comments "Mr Selfridge" with subtitle 0
There are no reviews and comments.
- Rating "Mr Selfridge": 7.70
- Genres: Drama
- Year of issue: 2013
- Countries: United Kingdom
- Duration: 45 minutes